Plants, Species
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Plants, Species
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Wildlife and Plant Species Occurring in Preserve In addition to supporting sensitive habitats, Hellhole Canyon also supports a great diversity of wildlife species. Within the Canyon at least 18 sensitive resident animal species have been detected. These species either live in the canyon year round or are resident during only the winter or summer. Another 6 sensitive wildlife species have been observed in the Canyon on an irregular basis. These species are considered sensitive or rare by the Federal and State governments or are Target Species for San Diego County’s Multiple Species Conservation Plan. The Friends has submitted over 160 sensitive animal and plant locations from Hellhole Canyon to the County of San Diego for inclusion in the North County Multiple Species Conservation Plan database. Several additional species have been detected since then. Wildlife biologist Kristine Preston, who has conducted ecological research at the preserve, collected these data from spring 1999 through fall 2001. It is important to note that these data are only for the southern portion of the canyon and that much of the canyon remains unsurveyed. Survey effort parcels newly acquired and added to the Preserve has been minimal, with most survey effort focused on about 150 acres near the Staging Area to the Preserve. Engelmann’s Oak, a California Native Plant Society (CNPS) List 4 species, is widespread in the preserve. To date, there have been no focused sensitive plant surveys in Hellhole Canyon, although we plan to conduct plant surveys in the future. Threatened and Endangered Species A single pair of federally-listed California gnatcatchers (Polioptila californica californica) was documented inhabiting coastal sage scrub for over a year near the entrance to Hellhole Canyon Preserve. This is rather far inland for this species to occur in north San Diego County, although they do occur regularly this far inland in south San Diego County. The pair disappeared after the start of the 2001 breeding season. California gnatcatchers have not been detected at the Brown parcel, although coastal sage scrub onsite is of higher quality than the scrub habitat occupied adjacent to the Preserve. Future focused surveys may find endangered species in the Preserve and on the Brown property. We have conducted one survey to assess the potential for the federally endangered Quino Checkerspot (Euphydryas editha quino) in Hellhole Canyon. Suitable habitat was found on the Brown parcel in open coastal sage scrub with native grasses, annual flowers, and Plantago erecta, the butterfly’s host plant. Habitat onsite is similar to habitat the butterfly uses in southwestern Riverside County. There is also potential for the federally-listed Arroyo Southwestern Toad (Bufo microscaphu californicus) to occur in Hell Creek, which normally runs year-round and supports sandy soils. There is a large population of the endangered toad near the confluence of Hell/Paradise Creeks and the San Luis Rey River, to the north of the Preserve. Based on suitable habitat, there is the potential that both of these listed species may occur on in the Preserve. Further surveying and biological research is ongoing at Hellhole Canyon.
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